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Corbin solid in bid for D-backs' rotation

Left-hander allows two runs on three hits over five innings vs. Indians

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Corbin's solid outing 1:31

3/22/13: Patrick Corbin goes five innings in a spring start against the Indians, allowing two runs and striking out four

By Jordan Bastian
/
MLB.com |

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Patrick Corbin continued his push for the fifth spot in the D-backs' rotation and Arizona took advantage of a pair of Cleveland errors, paving the way for a 7-5 Cactus League victory over the Indians on Friday night at Goodyear Ballpark.

In his sixth outing of the spring, Corbin limited the Tribe to two runs on three hits over five innings. The left-hander is competing against Randall Delgado -- acquired from the Braves in the Justin Upton trade -- for the final spot in Arizona's starting staff.

Corbin's lone lapse came in the third inning, when the hot-hitting Michael Brantley capitalized on a bases-loaded situation. After Corbin walked the bases full, Brantley drilled a pitch into center field for a two-run single that scored Lonnie Chisenhall and Drew Stubbs.

Corbin ended the evening with four strikeouts and three walks. For the spring, he has posted a 3.66 ERA, allowing eight runs on 23 hits with 19 strikeouts and seven walks in 19 2/3 innings.

"It felt good getting up there around 90 pitches," Corbin said. "I think in the third inning I just rushed a little bit, maybe got tired. But I fixed it and put up a couple zeroes after that."

Indians Opening Day starter Justin Masterson was charged with five runs in his five innings of work, but the big sinkerballer was only responsible for one earned run due to a pair of mistakes behind him. In the second inning, shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera misplayed a grounder in a three-run inning for Arizona. In the fourth, Chisenhall made a throwing error that led to a run for the D-backs.

Gerardo Parra chipped in an RBI double in the fourth inning against Masterson, who struck out seven and walked three in his outing.

Mark Teahen and Cliff Pennington connected for consecutive doubles off reliever Jerry Gil in a two-run sixth inning for Arizona.

In the home half of the sixth, Cleveland designated hitter Mark Reynolds crushed a pitch from D-backs pitcher David Hernandez for a two-run home run. The moonshot sailed high over the top of the tall scoreboard that sits behind the left-field lawn seats. That capped off a three-run outburst that cut Arizona's lead to 7-5.

Up next for the D-backs: The D-backs will travel across town on Saturday to Surprise to meet the Royals at 1:05 p.m. MST. Competing alongside Corbin for the fifth starter spot in Arizona's rotation, Delgado will make his fifth appearance of the spring. After allowing four runs in his first Cactus League start, Delgado has surrendered just three runs over his last 11 innings. With Adam Eaton suffering an elbow injury that will sideline him for 6-8 weeks, A.J. Pollock will likely continue to see plenty of at-bats as he now figures to make the club's Opening Day roster.